The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina provided an excellent opportunity to analyze the critical roles that the African American physician and the National Medical Association can play in preparing communities of color for natural and man-made disasters. The Cobb Institute defines and examines the issues surrounding disaster prepardness and recovery in the context of race and poverty. Framing the examination to include these social determinants of health offers the opportunity to explore the complex interplay of social, economic, cultural, and political components of the health care system at work under routine as well as emergency conditions. It also offers the opportunity to define barriers as well as propose solutions for the problem of disaster preparednesss in traditionally underserved communities.
